EIB signs loan agreement with Atlas Copco to support advanced R&D technologies

The operation is expected to make the company’s products and processes more environmentally friendly by financing RDI for the development of more sustainable productivity solutions.

The European Investment Bank has today signed the first tranche of a EUR 300 million (SEK 3.14 billion) loan facility with Atlas Copco. The EUR 144 million (SEK 1.5 billion) financing signed today comes in support of advanced research and development of technologies, as well as new innovative products in the areas of compressors, vacuum and industrial technologies. The operation is expected to make the company's products and processes more environmentally friendly by financing RDI for the development of more sustainable productivity solutions.

EIB Vice-President Alexander Stubb commented: "Supporting strategic know-how and technology in Europe is placed high on the agenda of the European Union. The EIB feels that this project will increase the European industry's technology leadership position and its competitiveness, thus supporting growth and employment around Europe. That, coupled with the company's commitment to making its production processes more sustainable, means that we're very happy to get behind this."

The project is expected to improve safety and productivity characteristics as well as reducing CO2 emissions and enhancing the energy efficiency and recovery of the resulting products. Atlas Copco's RDI activities will, in turn, enable its clients to increase their productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics, and can reduce the environmental impact of their production processes.

Over 60% of the investments will support activities to be carried out at the company's locations in Belgium and Sweden, with some 30% of the investments going to Germany and France, while the remainder will be split between activities in other European countries.